Mount Cook to Queenstown

On the road again, but this time off the beaten path, and along Bullock Train trail . . . a route suggested by our B&B host. The ‘trail’ is in fact a road constructed alongside the canal system built in the 1960s to move water from Lake Tekapo down a chain of lakes, and through a total of 7 hydro generating stations, providing power for most of New Zealand. An awesome engineering feat!



Not built exactly for tourism or other purposes, the canal and road also provide a self contained body of water for enterprising salmon farmers. So we not only enjoyed the spectacular views of the Alps, but purchased fresh smoked salmon for our picnic lunch that day.



And finally, an unrestricted view of Mount Cook, highest peak in New Zealand.



Our road continued, up through Lindis Pass, on our way to Queenstown . . . .



. . . and another breathtaking view from our hotel balcony.

Lake Tekapo

Lake Tekapo, home of the University of Canterbury Observatory on Mount John.





No matter where you point the camera, there’s a view to be had.
Glad we’ve got digital . . . . we’d have never made it this far if we’d been buying film.









The inevitable wayside flowers, wild lupins this time. ‘Darn!’ says Maralyn, ’can’t get them to grow in our garden’.



And yet another stunner of a sunset, this evening from the balcony of our B&B.



Stayed up late this night, stargazing. Viewed the Southern Cross for the very first time, otherwise few constellations we recognized, except for Orion on the horizon, which we can see at home. Only here, he’s upside down!

An Akaroa sunset, and onto Lake Tekapo

From the patio of our cottage . . .an Akaroa sunset worth remembering.



Next morning, up early, pack and away . .. but not before sharing breakfast with our wild companion.



On to Lake Tekapo, our first real view of the Southern Alps, and our first B&B on the trip. A delightful host, full of useful information for the adventurous traveler . . .and another stunning view from our room !

Akaroa and the Banks Peninsula

Starting a blog was a novel experience. No idea really what to expect, or how it might develop. But over the past weeks, it’s actually turned out to be a great way of sharing, and with keeping an account of where we’ve been, and what we’ve done. Our days have been so crammed with sights and sounds, folks and feelings, that it’s been difficult to recall all we’ve experienced to date.
After three weeks, everything is starting to blur together. So – a great way of keeping it sorted! Enough verbiage – let the pics speak for themselves.


From our patio. What a view to wake up to !



Do all motels in NZ come with a daily visitor? Or did she follow us from Coromandel?



The road to Le Bons Bay . . . and is this really for sale ?



. . .and the Bay itself, close up and personal.









Then from afar, and what better view while enjoying a picnic lunch.





Akaroa shows its French flavour.

Akaroa

Who are these three caged miscreants?



Three highly valued working dogs, out for a drive with their owner family, a farmer couple and young daughter. All three stock dogs trained to run herd on sheep, and much prized for their pedigree, as well as skills.



Our destination for the next two days – Akaroa Harbour.



Akaroa was originally a French settlement in the 18th century. When the British discovered that the French Government were despatching shiploads of settlers, they rapidly laid claim to the South Island. Had they not done so, today the South Island might well be a French colony. As it was, the French came and settled anyway, leaving Akaroa with a distinctly Francophone flavour.



The anticipated morning cappuccino, with a touch of daily news. . . .



And our cabin accommodation for the next couple of days . . . with yet another awesome view. . . .



. . . and a local inhabitant.

Christchurch

As we travel on, it is hard not to be impressed how quickly the landscape changes: from mountains, to rolling farmland, to coastal plains, to rugged heaths. Every turn in the road reveals yet another beauty. If the winding highways don’t slow us down, then the photo-ops do!



Christchurch boasts a thriving downtown on weekends, with its own tram system dressed for summer tourists.



The River Avon flows through the centre, punt rides for those who care to, in a scene that could almost be Cambridge UK.



In fact much of Christchurch reveals its Englishness, in quiet, leafy suburban streets.



Sunsets to soak up – this one right outside our motel balcony.

Hamner Springs

Before leaving Greymouth, we had to check out the beach, and managed to disturb a white faced heron hunting down a mid morning snack. Not that it seemed to mind us being there.





The road from Greymouth to Hamner Springs, via Marula Springs, on through miles of magnificent red and silver beech forests.





Then up through the Lewis Pass (912m at the summit), some of the mountain peaks with vestiges of snow still visible. We were told later by our host at Alpine Spring Motel, that two Christmases ago on the 23rd they had 2 feet of snow, and by the 25th the thermometer registered 31 C. And this is when their summer begins !





Hamner Springs surely must be a replica of Banff Springs in its early days, before it became so commercialized and spoiled.



We spoke with a horticulturist, after one of our “sessions” in the sulphur thermal springs, who was making notes as to the health of a monkey tree in one of the parks we visited. He expressed his concern for the lack of care of the huge Douglas firs, and Sequoia Redwoods surrounding the thermal springs, which are showing distress signs due to construction so near their roots, and clay backfill piled on top. Seems nowhere is immune from developers.

on to Greymouth

Our road from Punakaiki climbed from the beach, and hugged the side of the mountains above the Tasman Sea. All the way to Greymouth yielded views hard to describe, the rolling breakers creating a constant haze of salt air in the hot summer sun.



On, into Greymouth (terminus of the Christchurch-Greymouth Railway) with a totally busy downtown core, as is plain to see.



And some of the best ice-cream to date, a local flavour labeled hokey-pokey, a delicious blend of blissfully creamy vanilla, studded with honeycomb flakes.- to die for. ‘On the Spot’ catering to all tastes. Goodbye LCBO and Dairy Queen.